My kid had to use a mouthguard for grinding too—she always complained it made her teeth feel like they didn’t fit together the same in the morning. Took a couple weeks before she stopped noticing it. Guess it’s normal, but definitely weird at first.
That’s interesting about the mouthguard—I’ve always wondered if that weird “teeth don’t fit” feeling is just part of anything new in your mouth. I just got my braces tightened for the first time last week, and honestly, I was not prepared for how off my bite felt. It’s like my teeth don’t know where they’re supposed to go now. Did your kid ever say her jaw felt tired or sore too? I keep catching myself clenching without realizing it.
Also, is it normal for some teeth to hurt way more than others after a tightening? I’ve got one molar that feels like it’s being yanked out, but the others are just kind of achy. I keep worrying something’s wrong, but maybe it’s just part of the process? Curious if anyone else had that super uneven pain, or if it’s just me being anxious...
That “teeth don’t fit” feeling is honestly the weirdest part of braces—like your mouth’s suddenly a puzzle with the wrong pieces. I remember after my first few tightenings, my jaw felt like it had run a marathon. Clenching is super common, especially when you’re subconsciously trying to find a new “resting” spot for your bite. And yeah, uneven pain is totally normal. I had one stubborn canine that basically staged a protest every time. Usually, it’s just your teeth moving at different speeds... not a sign anything’s wrong. Hang in there—it gets less weird over time.
Usually, it’s just your teeth moving at different speeds...
That “puzzle with the wrong pieces” thing is spot on. My front teeth felt like they were fighting for space, and I kept biting my cheek by accident. I always wondered if it was normal for one side to ache way more than the other... guess it’s just part of the process.
I get what you mean about the “wrong puzzle pieces” feeling—my bite felt completely out of whack after my last adjustment. But I’m not 100% convinced that uneven pain is always just “part of the process.” Like,
—I had the same thing, but my ortho actually checked and realized one bracket was putting extra pressure on a molar. He tweaked it, and the pain evened out a lot.“I always wondered if it was normal for one side to ache way more than the other...”
From what I’ve read (and experienced), some asymmetry is expected because our teeth don’t move perfectly in sync. But if one side is noticeably worse or feels sharp instead of dull, it might be worth having them double-check the wire or brackets. I’m pretty detail-oriented and kept a pain log for a week (yeah, a little nerdy), and it helped spot patterns that weren’t just random soreness.
Bottom line: some unevenness seems normal, but don’t ignore it if it’s way off or gets worse instead of better. Sometimes it’s just your teeth shifting, but sometimes there’s a mechanical thing going on too.
